At our last transitional transparency meeting we were asked to view our congregation as a person. This abstract idea was hard for some of us to comprehend. But we gave it a try anyway. We were asked to identify our congregation as a person in a number of ways such as: gender, health, looks, vocation, future, and other insights we may have observed that were not addressed. The total two hours were spent on this exercise, and we didn't finish looking at all the characteristics presented to us. Looks like we will continue with this at our next meeting.
Some of the responses were rather humorous. One comment was that we are "tired and need a nap." Another said we are a "person of simplicity, but not simple-minded." The best comment was that we are "like an octopus-a big belly from being a bit flabby and over-fed, but many arms for reaching out and helping others." But the most profound comment was, "We live in a house that needs a little paint and a fire in the fireplace. The foundation is still good."
After this meeting we had the thought that we felt like we had just spent two hours on a psychiatrist couch. Our transitional pastor wants to spend the next meeting completing the picture of who our congregation person is and where we go from here. Then, if time permits, begin looking at issues related to the pastoral search process.
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